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Lucas Beck crawled through Melinda James’ window every night. Each time, gaining a piece of her heart and leaving a bit of his behind.

Lucas was in love with the girl next door, but he ruined any chance he had of making her his. So, he moved on without her.

Lindy gave her heart to the boy next door, but he left her humiliated and heartbroken. So, she started a new life without him.

They both head off to college, leaving the other behind. Lucas finds success then misery on the Football field. Lindy finds new love, but it never feels quite right.

Years later, Lucas and Lindy find themselves back in their hometown. Will Lindy open her window again and give Lucas another chance?

MY TAKE

I read this book in one sitting! It was THAT good! I loved all the old Lucas and Lindy quotes from their childhood at the beginning of each chapter! This book drew me in from the first page and kept me there! I felt like I went through Lucas and Lindy’s trials and tribulations with them. I am SO happy they got the Happily Ever After that they deserved! I loved this book and HIGHLY recommend it! Cannot wait for the next book, Doors (Coming Home #2), to come out so we can see Tara and Daniel’s story!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today best selling author,Emily Minton is a Kentucky native. Raised in Missouri, her family returned to Kentucky when she was a teen. She is proud to call the Bluegrass State home. She claims she bleeds blue–Wildcat Blue!Emily has been married to her husband, David, for over twenty years. They share two lovable but irritating teenagers, Jess and Bailey. She is also the proud mom of a feisty terrier mix, Rae Rae. Emily loves to read and has more books on her kindle than most people could read in a life time, but she intends to read every single one. Nope, no hoarding problem here! Her favorite author is Kristen Ashley, and she swears Kristen’s book Sweet Dreams changed her life. Emily has co-authored two books with Dawn Martens, Whiskey Lullaby and Renegade Lady. She has also written one solo book, Windows. Many more are floating around in her head, and she hopes to get them all on paper before long. She loves sharing her dreams with her readers.

Join us at AToMR Tours facebook page for Happy Hour with the Last Call Bar! From 6pm-7pm EST we will be celebrating the release of MAKE IT A DOUBLE with giveaways, quizzes, and BRODY! Grab a drink (non-alcoholic for those under 21 years of age) and stop by!

Also, Sawyer Bennett will be doing a Q&A on Tuesday, April 22nd at 8pm EST at Flawk.to. Come join in to the Sawyer Bennett session and look for AToMR’s Flawk sheep!

MAKE IT A DOUBLE

Last Call, #2

Adult Contemporary Romance

Brody Markham has endured a nightmare, spending the last five years in prison and losing everything that was dear to him. Now he’s back home, trying to survive in a world he doesn’t recognize anymore. While his family and friends desperately try to reach through to him, he shelters himself further and further away from their love.

Alyssa Myers has worked her entire life to distance herself from the luxurious and privileged lifestyle in which she was raised. Running her non-profit agency, The Haven, she is content to spend her days helping abused animals find sanctuary, which fulfills her in a way that money just can’t buy.

Maybe it’s that she recognizes in Brody some of the same characteristics she sees in her homeless wards, but Alyssa is powerless to stop her personal quest to make Brody whole again.

While Brody struggles to surface from the darkness, Alyssa tries to protect her heart in case he’s not willing to accept the light that she offers him.

*MAKE IT A DOUBLE can be read as a stand-alone*

EXCERPT

I put the last of my groceries away, fold up the brown paper bags, and tuck them in the space between my refrigerator and the kitchen wall. Turning around, I observe my little studio apartment. I see it all in just a quick glance, because it’s about the size of a postage stamp.

While I just helped Gabby move into Hunter’s house, I certainly didn’t need to ask them to reciprocate the favor. The only things I own are my clothes, and those were gifts to me from my mom. She had taken me out shopping the day after I got home from prison, outfitting me with an entirely new wardrobe. I mean… new as opposed to wearing prison garb for five years. I felt ashamed that my mom had to buy her twenty-eight-year-old son clothes because he didn’t have a dime to his name.

Past my clothes and some basic toiletries, I have no other possessions. The car I’m driving is courtesy of my parents… on loan, of course. It’s an old Chevy Malibu that had been sitting under a tarp, which Dad used to drive. They don’t use it, but it runs fine. Mom and Dad tried to give it to me, but I wouldn’t accept it. Instead, I capitulated only by agreeing that I was borrowing it until I could save up enough money to buy it from them.

Luckily, this studio apartment came completely furnished, and the kitchen was stocked with dishes, pots, pans, and utensils. I had all the basics that I needed to survive, because let’s face it… it wasn’t too fucking hard to boil some Ramen noodles for dinner, and that was a huge step up from the prison food I’d been eating.

So with my duffel bag filled with clothes purchased by my mom, I drove my old Chevy borrowed from my parents to the grocery store and stocked up on some basic provisions. Then it took me all of five minutes to move into my new home.

A knock on my door has me glancing down at my watch.

Right on time.

In three regular strides, I’m from one side of the apartment to the other and opening the door. There stands my parole officer, Jimbo Peaks. He is six-foot-six of solid muscle, his neck as thick as a tree truck, and his biceps the size of smoked hams. With skin darker than midnight, his light hazel eyes are spooky as shit when he looks directly at you, in that contemplative sort of way I’ve come to know over the last two months since I’ve been home.

“What’s up, Brody?” he says with a huge grin on his face, sticking his hand out for me to shake.

I take his hand, and it freaks me out how mine is dwarfed by his. I mean… I’m not a small man myself, almost as tall as Jimbo, in fact. But when comparing my muscle mass to his, I feel downright puny and I kept myself in pretty decent shape while in prison. Other than reading, working out was about the only thing that was a resourceful use of my time.

“Come on in,” I tell him as I step back so he can enter.

Jimbo walks into my humble abode and turns around once. Yup… he’s seen everything. A small kitchen on one side that merges right into my living room that abuts one wall. A double bed takes up the other wall, and the bathroom takes up another. It’s four hundred and fifty feet of cozy living, situated right above Mabel Fisher’s three-car garage.

Miss Mabel is older than Methuselah but has been a friend of our family’s since I was a baby. She’s eccentric, rich as hell, and loves to thumb her nose at polite society.

And by polite society, I mean those people here on the islands that look at me in disdain because I killed someone.

Not Mabel though. She was at my parents’ house within forty-eight hours of my return home, giving me a hug and a papery kiss, then making me sit down while she drank tea and filled me in on all the Outer Banks’ gossip for the past five years. She’s a trip… a breath of fresh air, and one of the few around here willing to give me a chance. When she offered to rent this apartment to me for a ridiculously small amount, I couldn’t say no.

“Nice digs man,” Jimbo’s deep voice rumbles. “All moved in?”

“Yup. Bag of clothes and some groceries. I’m settled.”

Jimbo chuckles and moves to my small kitchen table that seats only two people. Sitting down, he motions to the other chair so I do the same. “How does it feel to be out of your parents’ house?”

I crack a small smile and tap my fingers on the kitchen table. “It’s good. I mean… I love my parents, but it was time for me to get my own place.”

“Heard that,” Jimbo agrees, and then transitions into his next question. “How’s work going?”

“Going great,” I tell him, because it is. I enjoy working at Last Call, and I’m thankful as fuck I have a job. Most parolees struggle to find work, or get shit jobs that scrape the bottom of the barrel. When they can’t find work because no one will take a chance on them, they go back to a life of crime. If I had a nickel for every repeat offender I met in prison, who was there just because they couldn’t make an honest living, well… I’d be buying Mabel’s house from her rather than renting this apartment.

Jimbo doesn’t seem satisfied with my short answer, so he delves a bit more. It’s his job to make sure I can acclimate to life on the outside, so I’m not bothered when he asks, “Any problem being around the alcohol?”

“Nah,” I tell him genuinely. “No desire to drink at all.”

“That’s good,” he says with a smile. “Seeing as how that’s a condition of your parole.”

“Look, man… doesn’t matter if it’s a condition or not, there is nothing on this earth that could get me to drink a drop of alcohol.”

“And why is that?” he asks, but he knows the answer.

I tell him anyway.

“Because it shattered my life. Because it killed a man. It left a mother without a husband and a little boy without a father. Need any other reason?”

“No,” Jimbo says quietly, staring at me with those light eyes. “That’s a good enough reason.”

I hold his gaze, waiting for the next question. We’ve had this same meeting on five other occasions since I came home, but today it’s being done at my new home so he can check it out. As a parole officer, his role is part jail keeper, part counselor. It’s his responsibility to keep me on the straight and narrow, but to also do what he can to make sure my head is clear when I’m making my choices. So that involves talking… a lot. Just to make sure that the emotional and psychological toll of reentering the real world doesn’t cast me in a downward spiral.

Yeah, I talk a lot to Jimbo. He knows more of my internal struggles dealing with life on the outside than my family does. For whatever reason, I’ve been able to open up to him—somewhat—in a way that I just haven’t with my family. I suppose that boils down to the simple fact that Jimbo asks me questions… asks me how I’m feeling and how I’m coping. My parents, my identical twin Hunter, my baby sister, Casey… while they love me more than the air they breathe, well… they’re just not sure what is open to talk about and what may be taboo. So they walk on eggshells.

“Tell me some of the problems you’ve had adjusting?” Jimbo leads in.

Heard this question before too, and my answer the last time was, Not anything to tell.

I start to tell him the same thing, but the look on his face stops me. It says, And don’t hand me any bullshit, either.

I suppose I can skirt the real issues only so long before Jimbo is apt to put me in a headlock and beat the information out of me. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I decide to go ahead and lay it out. “I wake up at five AM every day, no matter what time I get to sleep the night before. It’s because I’ve been getting up at the same time every morning for the last five years… because I had no choice but to get up every morning at five AM. I don’t even know how to have a leisurely morning where I sleep in. When I go to sleep at night, I can hear metal cots squeaking and my cell mate rubbing one off while he tries to stifle his groans into the two-inch piece of flimsy foam that’s called a pillow. I hear the newbies crying, and I hear the lifers telling them to shut the fuck up. When I’m awake… out in the real world, I can’t walk around a blind corner without my palms sweating, because I’m expecting someone will be there waiting to jump me. I was always on alert… I’m still always on alert. The air smells too fresh, the food tastes too good, people talk too loud, and I’m having a hard time letting people touch me. It’s overwhelming and that’s just for starters, Jimbo. So yeah,” I say with some sarcasm as my eyes drop to the table. “I’m having a bit of an adjustment problem.”

“How does all of that make you feel?”

My eyes slowly rise to meet his. “I’m pissed off. All the time. I’m withdrawn, moody, and restless. I have all this wide-open space available to me, yet I’m having a hard time straying too far from the things that are safe to me. So I go to work, and I go home. That’s it.”

Jimbo gives me that contemplative look, and I can see the wheels turning inside his head. I’m prepared for him to launch into a pep talk, about how I have a chance to make something with my life… to atone for my mistakes and put the past behind me. Instead, he says, “You know… there’s something odd about you.”

My eyebrows shoot up and, for a moment, I consider being affronted by that statement, but then I just mentally shrug my shoulders. Odd is one of many things that I am.

“How’s that?” I ask.

“I’ve been doing this work close to twelve years now… and I can count on one hand the amount of parolees I’ve had that don’t try to convince me that they didn’t do it… or they were framed… or hell, even if they did do it, they blame a corrupt system for sending them away.” He pauses, his green-gold eyes flickering back and forth between mine. “But not you. You accepted responsibility and never once tried to blame someone or something else for your lot in life. It just makes you… odd.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I lean back in my chair. “No one to blame but myself.”

“That’s right,” Jimbo says with a nod. “No one to blame but yourself, and you’ve done a remarkable job accepting responsibility. In fact, you’ve done such a good job at it… some might say that it would help you have a clear conscience.”

“What’s your point?” I ask, genuinely curious as to where he’s going with this.

“My point is that if you truly took responsibility and had a clear conscience, then you should have some measure of peace.”

I scratch my chin absently, pondering his words. I did the time. I took my lumps and accepted my punishment. Should that give me peace?

Jimbo’s probably right. In those circumstances, maybe my soul should feel a little lighter… more free. If I truly was remorseful for what happened, and I truly had done my penance, I shouldn’t be struggling the way I am.

Except… my circumstances aren’t exactly the way Jimbo describes it. He sees my sorrow and guilt, but he doesn’t see past that. Because there’s a whole lot more that makes up Brody Markham’s fucked-up world than just the after effects of a few years in prison. My issues started before I even got sent away.

MY TAKE

I am SO loving this series! I fell in love with Hunter and Gabby in Last Call #1, but I didn’t know how I would feel about Brody. He was so moody and introverted…but he ended up blowing me away! I loved this book even more than the first one, and I honestly didn’t think it was possible! The Markham boys are sexy and gentlemen. Love it! I give this book 5 enormous stars! HIGHLY recommend this series!

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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One to Protect (One to Hold #3)

By:
Tia Louise

Release
Date: April 21, 2014

Genre:
Contemporary Romance

Tour
Host: The Book Nuts Author Promotions

Readers are saying…

“Derek is hot! Patrick is equally
hot! Put these two hot men together and what do you get?!? Panty Dropping holy
mother of god hotness! The gang is back and I couldn’t be happier!” —Karrie,
Panty-Dropping Book Blog

“Each scene flowed into the next
effortlessly… drama, suspense and then a scene that will have your pulse racing
and your eyes dilating.”—Daphnie, Bound by Books blog

“5 of 5 breathtaking stars.” –Lisa,
Goodreads reviewer

“The sex scenes are hot, and the
story is great! The love Derek has for Melissa just pulls you in and you know
he would do anything in his power to make sure she is safe, which makes him a
new addition to my book boyfriend list!” —Chrissy, Reading Past My Bedtime blog

“I love this series. I think I
enjoyed this book the most because of the suspense element.” —Helen, Kinky Book
Klub

Synopsis:

One scar.

One betrayal.

No escape.When Sloan Reynolds beats criminal charges,
Melissa Jones stops believing her wealthy, connected ex-husband will ever pay
for what he did to her.

Derek Alexander can’t accept that—a tiny silver
scar won’t let him forget, and as a leader in the security business, he is
determined to get the man who hurt his fiancée.

Then the body of a former call girl turns up
dead. She’s the breakthrough Derek’s been waiting for, the link to Sloan’s
sordid past he needs. But as usual, legal paths to justice have been covered up
or erased.

Derek’s ready to do whatever it takes to protect
his family when his partner Patrick Knight devises a plan that changes
everything.

It’s a plan that involves coloring outside the
lines and taking a walk on the dark side. It goes against everything on which
Alexander-Knight, LLC, is based.

“What have you done?”
His voice is full of warmth as he watches me from the sofa.

“Since you’ve been
working too hard—”

“Exaggeration.”

“Since you’ve been
working too hard,” I repeat, “I decided to recreate our relaxing spa vacation
in the desert.”

Placing the tray on
the coffee table, I hand him his flute and lift mine. “To family restrooms.”

He laughs and clinks
back. “To the gorgeous woman who drives me to crazy extremes.”

We sip and I crawl
forward on the couch to kiss him and tell him again. “I love you.”

He leans forward,
placing his flute, the tray, my flute, all of it on the coffee table. Then his
hands move through the open robe to pull me onto his lap in a straddle, facing
him. Just that fast, his mouth is on my neck, nibbling and kissing. My eyes are
closed, and I’m powerless.

Threading my fingers
in his hair, I kiss his temple. “I wore the red lace…”

A rumble of approval,
and his lips touch that spot behind my ear, a light scruff against my skin,
sending shivers flying down my legs.

“My favorite.” His
voice is thick as I pull his cheeks, reuniting our mouths.

For a moment, we make
out like teenagers, hot and breathless, tongues entwining. He holds me against
his bare chest, my elbows are bent, and my palms are on his cheeks. His mouth
is like some rich, decadent chocolate I can never get enough of tasting. As we
kiss, I feel him relax, and my hands slide behind his neck, my lips travel up
to his brow. He hugs me against his torso and doesn’t move. Neither do I.

This big, strong man
saved me twice. If comfort is what he needs, I’m here to give it to him. I’m
here to give him anything. After a few more breaths, his arms relax. I lean
back and study his face a moment. The robe has dropped around my shoulders, so
I’m basically sitting nude on his lap, but I don’t care.

“Hungry?” I reach for
the sandwich plate and hold it between us, right at our chins. “You probably
won’t think it’s as good as Central Grocery, but I think it’s delicious.”

His blue eyes take me
in before he bites. “Mmm…” is all I get.

Giggling, I lean
forward and take a bite myself. The tangy, savory flavor of olives and smoky
provolone fills my mouth.

“Delicious!” My voice
is muffled.

His smile glows as he
watches me, his voice full of love. “How’s the baby?”

Lowering the sandwich
to the plate, I turn and put it on the side table again. “I can’t feel a thing,
but the doctor said he’s doing great.”

My last checkup was a
week ago, and we both agreed unless something unusual occurred, Derek could
miss the routine exams. So far everything has been by the book.

“So he’s a boy now?”
I love his grin at the prospect of a little son.

Shrugging, I
acquiesce. “Maybe… it’s too soon to know.”

His attention moves
from my face to my abdomen. Large hands span my bare stomach before he leans
forward and kisses me right below my sternum, right at the top of my belly.

“I love you,” he
whispers to the little bean growing there.

I’m certain my heart
melts in that instant, and I catch his face again to cover it with kisses. He’s
right with me, lifting me in his arms and carrying me to the master suite. A
California king-sized bed fills the space, and he spreads me out on the soft
mattress, lying on his side next to me.

I trail my fingers
lightly over his brow, to his temple, following a line to his strong jaw. He
looks at me like I’m the most fragile thing in his bed—another detail he knows
isn’t true.

We don’t disturb the
moment, though. The truth might be that both of us are strong as iron, tough as
flint, but holding each other, we know how precious it is that we’re here,
together.

The randomness of
chance keeps us both in awe, and for that, we treasure these moments. After
working so hard, our reunions are the sweetest bliss. He holds me, and I feel
very needed and extremely sexy. This man is like water in the desert to me, and
it isn’t hard to see the feeling is mutual.

“I’m sorry I
interrupted dinner.” Leaning forward, he nibbles the skin at my neck, and a
surge rises between my legs. “Can you wait?”

Tia Louise is a former journalist, world-traveler, and collector
of beautiful men (who inspire all of her stories… *wink*)–turned wife,
mommy, and novelist.

She lives in the center of the U.S.A. with her lovely family and
one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and
sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations…It’s possible
she has a slight truffle addiction.

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We are thrilled that Lauren Blakely’s NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is available today!!! NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is the first full-length novel from her first Erotic Romance Series, The Seductive Nights Series! The prequel novella, FIRST NIGHT, is included in NIGHT AFTER NIGHT!! Grab your copy today and don’t forget to enter to win a signed paperback copy of NIGHT AFTER NIGHT!

About NIGHT AFTER NIGHT:

**Warning: Spare panties are needed for reading this book…you’re welcome.***

“You are being rewarded for turning me on. But we’re doing it my way. You teased the hell out of me, and now I want to watch you squirm. Crawl up on my bed and get on your hands and knees.”

Their world was sex, love, and lies.
He intoxicated her. Commanded. Consumed.
With a dirty mind and a mouth to match, Clay Nichols is everything Julia never knew she wanted and exactly what she cannot have. He walked into her life one night and unlocked pleasure in her that she never knew was possible. Possessing her body, captivating her every thought. Which makes him way too dangerous for Julia to risk her heart, given that she has a price tag on her head. She ran after one mind-blowing week with him, but now he’s back, and determined to make her his own.
No matter the cost.
She was a sexy drug to him. Fiery, unforgettable, and never enough, Julia is an enigma, and Clay isn’t willing to let her go without a fight. But she’s got dark secrets of her own that threaten to destroy any chance of happiness. She’s a wanted woman – the stakes are high, her every move is watched, and yet the lure between them can’t be denied. Can two people burned by love trust again when desire and passion are met by danger at every turn?A sensual, emotionally-charged erotic romance from the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…

Please note: This book is intended for 18+ due to dirty talk, light bondage, and lots of sexy scenes. This ebook edition also includes the prequel novella First Night, which precedes Night After Night.

MY TAKE:

STEAMY HOT! I loved it! Clay Nichols is all Alpha Male and the connection between him and Julia is smoking hot! I loved that although Clay was all Mr. Alpha Kinky Guy, he also knew that Julia needed to take over sometimes and he was okay with that….which is very rare usually with the that type of male. The storyline was fantastic! I cannot wait for the next book! I highly recommend this series!

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

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We are fanning ourselves over this incredibly hot cover for an even hotter anthology! SOME LIKE IT HOT contains five novellas of hot, sexy love in one limited edition anthology, brought to you by five of today’s hottest bestselling Erotic Romance authors.

ABOUT SOME LIKE IT HOT Anthology:

***5 Bestselling Authors, 5 Bestselling Erotic Romance Novellas, 1 Amazing Price.This special edition anthology will be available for a limited time once it releases on May 20th!***

From the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Olivia Cunning…

One Starry Night…

In high school, Jake was the bad boy who made Michelle burn with desire, took what he wanted from her body, and broke her heart. In hindsight, Michelle never should have gotten tangled up with the aspiring guitarist in the first place. In high school, Devlin was a sweet, shy geek who’d had a crush on her, but when he’d found the courage to ask her to Prom, she’d turned him down flat. In hindsight, she should have worried more about the quality of the boy than her reputation with the popular crowd. But this isn’t high school anymore. At her ten year class reunion, Michelle finds her once popular crowd lacking, but finds both the man who broke her heart and the one she once rejected irresistibly sexy. She wants them. Both of them. And they want her any way—every way—they can have her. Can she resist either man? Does she even want to try?

New York Times bestselling author Nicole Edwards is heating things up with Boots Optional, a sexy new ménage novella which is the first book in a hot new series called Dead Heat Ranch. Grace Lambert is familiar with hard work, long days, and handsome cowboys. She’s been working for her family’s dude ranch since she was old enough to ride a horse and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. What she is afraid of is the heat that’s been generating between her and not one, but two sexy cowboys who’ve set their sights on her. And each other. Grant Kingsley and Lane Miller have both had their eyes on Gracie for years, but the feisty cowgirl has managed to keep them at bay. As far as they are concerned, cowboys don’t give up, and neither of them is ready to give up just yet. Not on her and not on the heat that transpires between the two of them. Find out what happens when the sultry Texas nights get as hot as the fierce Texas days.

New York Times bestselling author Cherrie Lynn gets it hot in here with SHAMELESS. It’s a vacation Meredith Taylor will never forget. A sunny beach, good friends and good times. But when she overhears a couple having a passionate interlude on the balcony above her one night, she can’t get the man’s sultry voice out of her mind. Especially when she figures out exactly who that man is…

Cameron Moore always had an eye on his best friend’s little sister but considered her strictly off limits, choosing to satisfy his lust elsewhere. Now Meri seems to want to annihilate every wall Cam’s put up against her. The beach is hot, the drinks are cold, Meredith is irresistible, and something has to give. Will it only be the walls between them, or their hearts as well?

New York Times Bestselling Author Kristen Proby brings you PLAYING WITH FIRE, a ménage novella. Bailey Whitworth is a charity event organizer and a woman exploring her sexuality. Kevin Welling and Gray McDermitt are firefighters and best friends who share everything. Bailey always knew her sexual appetites were “different”, but she had no idea that she could fall in love with two men at once. What will she do when she has to choose between them? Or will she have to choose at all?

From USA Today bestselling author, Lainey Reese comes Guarding Nadia.

When Nadia Dixon walked into the offices of CJ Investigations, the last thing she expected to find were men who looked more like GQ models than bodyguards. It was desperation that brought her to their door however and she prayed that the two sex gods were more than just pretty faces.

Caleb and Jonas had started their security firm together after leaving the Secret Service. They had the lethal skill and training to safeguard anyone, including the gorgeous erotic author. Considering her stunning beauty, alluring sensuality and decadent profession, the only wonder was that she had drawn out just one obsessed fan. After hearing Nadia’s story and seeing for themselves the threat that she was under, they knew they could keep her safe from any stalker.

Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She’s been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction — first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own.

Olivia’s first book in her Sinner’s Tour Series, Backstage Pass, was published in 2010 by Sourcebooks. Book two in the series, Rock Hard, was published in 2011 and the third book, Double Time just released November 2012. The last two books in the series are expected to be out in 2013. Aside from the Sinners Tour that launched her career, Olivia has been hard at work on a few other series and stand alones . . . of course with the music turned up.

Nicole lives in Texas with her husband, three kids and four dogs. It’s quite the household and most of the time you’ll find her locked away in her office – dubbed the writing cave. When she’s not there, you’ll probably find her reading or hanging out with the dogs and kids, doing her best to keep them in line. And no, for the record, it doesn’t usually work.

New York Times bestselling author Cherrie Lynn has been a CPS caseworker and a juvenile probation officer, but now that she has come to her senses, she writes contemporary and paranormal romance on the steamy side. It’s *much* more fun. She’s also an unabashed rock music enthusiast, and loves letting her passion for romance and metal collide on the page.

When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, listening to music or playing with her favorite gadget of the moment. She’s also fond of hitting the road with her husband to catch their favorite bands live.

Cherrie lives in East Texas with said husband and their two kids, all of whom are the source of much merriment, mischief and mayhem. You can visit her at http://www.cherrielynn.com or at the various social networking sites. She loves hearing from readers!

KRISTEN PROBY is the USA Today bestselling author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

Lainey lives in lovely Lake Stevens, Washington. She is the author of the sizzling New York series, including the USA Today best seller Innocence Defied. Lainey’s first novel, A Table for Three, was nominated for best debut novel of 2010 by the Romance Review and the fun hasn’t stopped since the minute that book hit the shelves. Most days when Lainey isn’t tucked in front of her computer she can be found out exploring the beautiful Pacific North West with her daughter and their two beloved pups. For more on Lainey and the books available, you can visit her website @ www.laineyreese.com

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Deep Surrendering (Episode 2) by Chelsea M. Cameron

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Fin ran out on Marisol, leaving her naked on her couch, she swore she was done with him. There was no way she would forgive him, let alone see him again. But fate, or something else, had different ideas, and she ran into him again the very next day.

Instead of hating his guts and wanting him to die, Marisol finds that’s she’s still attracted to Fin. She just can’t get him out of her system. Maybe if they had one night together? Just one night and she could get over him. But will that be enough?

MY TAKE:

Oh my goodness the storyline is getting REALLY good! I love these short episodes! I can read them in one sitting easily and feel like I really got a good story. I didn’t know how it was going to go since at the end of the first episode, Fin left Marisol for a second time! I was glad to see them get through it and move on. I’m wondering what’s in story for the characters! Cannot wait for the next episode! I highly recommend!

She’s all about rules. He lives by none but his own. When these two meet, the results could be disastrous.

When Marisol Everly’s friend Rory sets her up with Fin Herald, Marisol doesn’t expect that it will amount to anything, but that was before she saw Fin’s searing blue eyes and mischievous smile. Not to mention, he seems absolutely fascinated by her mundane life. He’s everything that a girl could want, but there’s something else that ripples under the surface of his flirty behavior. Something darker. Something that fascinates Marisol, but scares her at the same time. Is she willing to risk falling into an abyss she might not get out of?

MY TAKE:

This book pulled me in from the first page and I could not put it down until I had read every single page. The chemistry between Marisol and Fin was flaming hot! I loved the back and forth between them. I honestly don’t know what is going to happen next, but I cannot wait for the next episode to release! I highly recommend!

Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world’s worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting (this one time, she was tweeted by Neil Gaiman). She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Her New Adult Contemporary Romance titles include My Favorite Mistake, which has been bought by Harlequin along with a sequel, Deeper We Fall and Faster We Burn (April 20, 2013)

Her Young Adult books include Nocturnal, Nightmare and Neither, the first three books in The Noctalis Chronicles. The fourth and final book, Neverend will be out in 2013. Whisper, the first in The Whisper Trilogy is also available, with the second book in the series, Silence and the final book, LIsten coming out in 2014.

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We are thrilled to share the gorgeous cover and a teaser for Happenstanceby New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie McGuire! We’d love to know what you think, so please be sure to comment below AND don’t forget to check out the amazing giveaway!

#1 New York Times Bestseller Jamie McGuire returns to self-publishing with this page-turning YA account of Erin Easter, one of three Erins in the small senior class of rural Blackwell High School who not only share a first name, but also their birthday. Erin Easter, raised by a neglectful single mom, keeps to herself and admires Weston Gates from afar. The other Erins, Erin A. and Erin M. are the darlings of the community: daughters of the two wealthiest families in town, best friends, cheerleaders, and everything Erin Easter isn’t–and they never let her forget it. Erin A. has even claimed Weston since the 8th grade.

Weston is a well-liked star athlete, and the son of two prominent attorneys. He struggles daily with the pressures of living up to his family name and secretly empathizes with Erin Easter’s feeling that she belongs somewhere else; in a different life. Not until he begins sneaking nights out with Erin does he gain the courage to buck expectations and acknowledge his feelings … both for his future, and for her.

But when a shocking tragedy rocks the tiny town, Erin’s life is turned upside down in the best way possible. But when the truth is revealed and everything Erin thinks she wanted falls into her lap, life only becomes more complicated.

TEASER

“What are you reading?” A deep voice asked from the seat behind me.

I barely acknowledged Weston’s question, holding the cover of my book just high enough for him to see.

He nodded, waiting for me to speak. When I didn’t, he offered a small smile, and began to sit back. “What are you reading?” I asked.

Weston immediately leaned toward me, sharing his cover the way I had.

“Piers Anthony?” Weston cleared his throat to stifle a cough, and then smiled. “I like his stuff.”

I nodded. “I approve.”

“Good,” Weston whispered. “I was worried.” After a short pause, he leaned into my ear again. “Why don’t you ever talk to me in Art class?”

We had Art together in seventh period, the class I looked forward to all day. Weston was in there, but more importantly, people like the Erins and Brady weren’t. We were serious about our work, and it was the one place during the school day that I could be myself.

“I guess I was just busy.”

“Are you going to be busy today?”

“Probably.”

“Well, maybe I’ll get lucky and you’ll take a break.” I turned around to hide my grin, but not before glancing back and seeing the familiar look of hatred in Alder’s eyes.

New York Times best selling author Jamie McGuire has penned the Providence series and contemporary romance Beautiful Disaster. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three children. She is an RT(R), a graduate of Autry and Oklahoma Northern College, and a full time writer.

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10 Full-Length Novels that are first in the series or a companion novel that can be read as a stand alone.

Brooke Cumberland – Spark

Erika Ashby – Moving Forward

J.S. Cooper – The Last Boyfriend

J.L. Berg – When You’re Ready

Mia Sheridan – Stinger

Harper Sloan – Axel

Adriane Leigh – Wild

Kasey Millstead – Cowboy Town

MJ Carnal – Taming the Bachelor

Kimberly Lauren – Beautiful Broken Rules

This anthology will only be available for 10 DAYS starting April 15, 2014! Make sure you one-click it before this exclusive, limited time offer goes away!

Synopsis

Jesika Reynolds’ heart was left broken one year ago when her husband died, leaving her and her son alone in this world. Slowly, she started putting the pieces back together of her life. Knowing that she may never open herself up to love again. That was until the day Derek came into the picture.

Why does this gorgeous stranger seem to care so much, so suddenly?

Derek Jordan’s charm drew her in with an instant connection, and familiarity that helps her feel at ease. Her heart is falling at his feet, but as their relationship grows, so does a secret from both of their pasts that neither saw coming. One by one, the threads slowly start to unravel.

Can their newly sought love stand up against the secrets that life is unlocking to their pasts? Or can they decide together that moving forward and forgetting the past is the only option for them to find true happiness?

**Intended for Mature Audiences**

About the Author

Being born an “Army Brat”, Erika Ashby has been residing in Oklahoma the last 10 years finally putting an end to the nomad tendencies she had grown accustomed to. She’s a happily married woman who has 5 kids between her and her husband. She has an insane passion for music and embraces her Inner Groupie any chance she has. It wasn’t until the age of 29 that she realized she also had a hidden passion for reading; before then she claimed to have hated it. Six months after unlocking that deep desire she never knew she held, she turned the key to another chapter of her life which has become the desire to write. And the rest is still history in the making.

Synopsis

Years after suffering the tragic loss of her husband, Ethan, which left her alone to raise their young daughter, Clare Murray still holds the last letter he wrote with the words “When You’re Ready” written in his familiar messy handwriting, unable to break its weathered seal. Ready for what? He was her entire world, and Clare had accepted a life without him, without love. Until years later, fate brings her to an emergency room, and face to face with a stormy-eyed doctor intent on changing her mind.

Son of a billionaire, Logan Matthews has spent his life trying to make his absentee father proud. Without a family to depend on, all he’s ever wanted is a place to call home. After a failed marriage, Logan believes he’s unworthy of love…until he meets a woman who awakens his spirit and transforms his entire life in an instant.

But how far are Clare and Logan willing to go for love? Can his love mend the pieces of her grieving heart?

When their love is tested, is Clare ready to put her whole heart on the line again? Can Logan learn the true meaning of love, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness? When a second chance at love is given, Clare and Logan learn you are never truly ready until you’re ready to risk it all.

About the Author

I’m a California native, who lives in the South – Virginia to be exact. I still prefer sushi to fried chicken, avocados to okra, and I absolutely loathe humidity. I do love watching the seasons change though. My husband and I have been here for ten years, and I still get giddy like a school girl every time it snows.

I’m married to my high school sweetheart. We were married young, barely out of high school. Everyone told us we were crazy and stupid. We’ll be celebrating 12 years of marriage this year, and I love him more every single day. We’re living proof that true love knows no age limit.

We’ve been blessed with two beautiful daughters who continue to amaze and inspire me, and are probably making me go a bit insane. I’m obsessed with yoga and pilates and am a complete chocoholic. I apologize in advance for the amount of sweets in my book.

I’m absolutely obsessed with romance novels (duh) and probably could have built a vacation home with the amount of money I’ve invested in them over the years. Romance novels take you to another place, making your heart race, emotions swell, passion run free. After so many years of meeting hundreds of fictional characters and discovering their worlds, I found myself creating my own.

Synopsis

Ex marine and bad boy, Mark Moretti, made a pact with his childhood friends to live life to the fullest and never allow a woman to tie him down. After years of success and the world at his feet, he is determined to make that pact a reality. A move back to his beloved Los Angeles threatens to change the future he had written for himself when the shy and beautiful, Sophie Barringer, ends up being the Maid of Honor at his sister’s wedding.

Sophie has been burned at love. The last thing she needs is a self proclaimed bachelor to turn her head. But her heart may have other plans.

Forced to spend a week together in paradise, can they deny their steamy chemistry and stay away from each other or will they give in to lust and take the chance? Can Mark get over his player reputation to take a shot at love or will fate be cruel enough to deny them their happily ever after?

About the Author

MJ Carnal lives in Lexington, South Carolina with her husband, gorgeous daughter and two loving and super furry dogs. She spends her days in the world of neurosurgery but her nights in a world she creates on paper. When she isn’t writing, you can find her watching episodes of The Walking Dead with her hubby, having tea parties with Princess Caroline, Singing karaoke for anyone that will listen and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. The Moretti Novels are her first published works.

Lucky Morgan has had her share of heartbreak. She is devastated when her boyfriend dumps her after sleeping with him and she vows to herself that she won’t be used again. She decides that the next guy she dates and sleeps with, will be her one true love.

Zane Beaumont is the mysterious and snooty guy that comes into her diner every Friday night with a different girl. He’s the type of guy she’s learned to avoid: carefree, fast, handsome, rich, and sarcastic. Unfortunately, she can’t stop thinking about the devilish gleam in his eyes.

When Lucky’s car breaks down one night after a party, it is Zane who comes to her rescue. As Zane attempts to sweep Lucky off of her feet, she soon realizes that nothing is as it seems and that Zane may very well be the guy for whom she changes the rules. That is until she meets Braydon.

About the Author

J. S. Cooper is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She is a true romantic that is in love with love. The J. S. stands for Jaimie Suzi. She just thought J. S. sounded cooler! J. S. was born in London, England and moved to the States at age 17. She studied history in college and then went to law school and then decided to follow her writing dreams. J. S. writes ‘New Adult’ contemporary romance books because that is what she also loves to read.

Available Books: The Last Boyfriend, The Last Husband, Before Lucky, The Other Side of Love, Zane & Lucky’s First Christmas, Crazy Beautiful Love, Scarred, and Healed.

Upcoming books: Finding My Prince Charming, If Only Once (The Martelli Brothers), Everlasting Sin, The Rebel Next Door and Hot Prof.

When your past controls your future, how do you move forward?
Velaney Wills knows about that all too well.
Weak, powerless, and fearing the one person who has hurt her the most…can she overcome the barriers to move forward?
Being saved by a muscled Godsend was never on her agenda, but when firefighter, Eric Reilley comes into her life unexpectedly, everything changes.Velaney has never felt loved or cared for, and her past prevents her from letting anyone in. Eric manages to break down her walls—despite the repercussions that come for them afterwards.They have an undeniable spark—something she has never felt before, but will it be enough? Can love overcome all obstacles? Can they save each other to protect their love or will her past shatter everything she never knew she needed…?

Brooke Cumberland is a stay-at-home mom who writes full-time. She lives in the frozen tundra of Packer Nation with her husband and wild child. She’s the author of The Riverside Trilogy and The Spark Series. When she isn’t writing she’s reading or hanging out with her family.
You can find Brooke on Facebook, Twitter, and on her website.www.brookecumberland.comwww.facebook.com/brookecumberlandauthor
Twitter @blcumberland

Synopsis

One thing Emerson Moore has come to terms with is that she is the school slut. She knows her way around a frat house and how to get what she wants. She doesn’t make any excuses for her actions and she doesn’t pretend to be anything different. She is who she is and with that she knows how to have a good time. She’s made rules to keep relationships at bay and avoid the demons of her past.

When her best friend, Cole has his two friends from back home move in with him she begins to think she has met her match with Jaxon Riley. Jax is the perfect mixture of tattooed muscle and a sweet-talking mouth. With “hand” written notes, a voice that exudes sex and knowing just how to get under her skin, Jaxon learns how to break all the rules. But will he just end up breaking her heart anyway?

Lately if I’m not traveling or chasing a toddler, I’m writing. Which is weird because I hated writing in college. Oh wait, that’s because that was boring. Who really wants to sit there and cite all your sources into APA format? Not this girl. Writing for yourself is enjoyable and cathartic. Please try it. Then tell me about because I love indie authors.

I’m a Texas girl living in Southern California, who misses living in Europe!

Synopsis

An independent woman, a controlling man, and one wild one-night stand…Kat Kennedy moved to the rugged coast of Maine to start a new life, but encountered much more than she bargained for in dark, dangerous, and seductive Lane Wild.Desire and temptation smolder before she succumbs to her darkest fantasies with the captivating stranger. She doesn’t expect to see him again after an explosive one-night stand leaves her breathless and craving more, but just like lightning in the darkness, he shows up in her life at the most unpredictable moments.

A sensual game of cat and mouse ensues before the attraction between them reaches a fever pitch—the magnetism combustible, the sexual tension nearly unbearable—and Kat finally abandons inhibition and explores the cunning, selfish, and sexual side of a world she’s never known.

They have the perfect non-relationship—passion-fueled nights with no strings attached—until life gets real and the past and present collide in a dangerous storm of lust and obsession.

About the Author

Adriane Leigh was born and raised in a snowbank in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and now lives among the sand dunes of the Lake Michigan lakeshore.She graduated with a Literature degree but never particularly enjoyed reading Shakespeare or Chaucer.

She is married to a tall, dark, and handsome guy, and plays mama to two sweet baby girls. She is a voracious reader and wishes she had more time to knit scarves to keep her warm during the arctic Michigan winters.

Synopsis

Ever since her parents passed away in a tragic car accident, Eden Cross has been living a quiet, stable and predictable life in inner Sydney – the total opposite of her carefree, relaxed, happy-go-lucky past. Her parents passing and the fact she’s an only child meant Eden was left with her best friend, Jules and Matt, her boyfriend of three years as her only family. That was until she discovered something about Matt that would turn her life upside down. Eden leaves Sydney in a hurry and begins an adventure that takes her across four Australian states before she lands in Pine Creek, Northern Territory.

Jackson Henley has lived in Pine Creek his entire life. He runs a massive cattle and cropping station with his twin brother, Jeremy, which they inherited when their parents retired. He’s had a bad experience with relationships courtesy of The Bitch – Dannika, so lately he’s preferred to play the field. That is, until he comes face to face with the stunning brunette beauty who’s behind the bar at the Cow and Calf. The problem is, she won’t tell him her name, she won’t give him the time of day, and she won’t give him a chance to prove himself.

What’s it going to take for Eden to give Jackson a chance? Does he have the patience to even bother fighting for her? How will he handle the competition?

In the end, will Jackson have what it takes to convince Eden to start living again, instead of just existing?

About the Author

Kasey Millstead is a wife and mother of four children. She lives in a picturesque location in country New South Wales, Australia.
Kasey is the author of the #1 bestselling Down Under Cowboy series. She is also the author of The Steele Investigations series, Fighting to Stay and Illicit Desire.
When she is not busy writing, racing around after her children and husband or trying to avoid doing housework, she enjoys nothing more than curling up with a good book and getting lost in the world of Happy Ever After.
You can contact Kasey on Facebook (www.facebook.com/authorkaseymillstead), on Twitter (@KaseyMillstead), via her website )www.kaseymillstead.com), or by email (kaseymillstead@gmail.com)

Synopsis

Grace Hamilton was the girl with a plan. She knew exactly where her life was going and prided herself on always achieving her goals. It was who she was, and how she lived her life. She never stepped outside the lines, and never considered what she might desire and whom she was actually trying so hard to please. Until him…Carson Stinger was a man who didn’t play by any rules except his own. Working in the adult entertainment industry, he didn’t care what others thought, and took each day as it came, no direction, no plan. He knew what women wanted from him and believed it was all he had to offer. Until her…When circumstances forced them to spend several hours together, they walked away changed. But for two people who never should have meshed, overcoming the reality of their vastly different lives wasn’t possible. At least not yet…

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY SCORPIO. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

About the Author

I’m Mia Sheridan. So nice to meet you! 🙂 I’m an avid reader, and now writer! of romance and erotic novels. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio with my husband who is a police officer and my biggest fan (not necessarily in that order). We have four children here on earth and one in heaven. When I’m not sitting on my couch with my head buried in my Kindle, I can be found writing or doing anything creative from building a patio, to sewing pillows. The wild hairs I get know no bounds. Leo is my debut novel, but my head is swimming with more…

Synopsis

Fate hasn’t always been friends with Isabelle West. In fact, fate has been a downright bitch. Isabelle has learned the hard way how hard life can be when fate isn’t by your side. It can hand you dreams on silver platters, but it can snatch them right back and hand you nightmares. One thing Isabelle knew for sure fate was consistent with was taking away everything she ever loved.

For the last two years Isabelle has been slowly clearing the clouds of her past. Happiness is finally on the horizon. She has a thriving business, great friends, and her life back. All she has to do is jump over the last hurdle…her ex-husband. When problems start causing her to fear her new life, and memories that are better left forgotten start rushing to the surface the last thing she needs is a ghost from her past to come knocking on her door.

Axel never thought he would look into the eyes of Isabelle West again, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to now. He’s carried his anger for so long he isn’t sure he can just turn it off, but when he is faced with protecting her and an unexpected desire to have her again, life gets a little more complicated.

How will Axel and Isabelle deal when all their cards are put on the table and everything they thought was true blows up in their faces?

About the Author

Harper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed ‘Estrogen Ocean’, much to her husbands chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero–the super alpha kind!

Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn’t take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.

Several winners and prizes. Only those legally allowed to may enter. Any found cheating on their entries will be placed on the BANNED list and thus be banned from winning any Fae Books giveaways. Giveaway organised by FaeBooks.co.uk. Prizes come from their respective donators. Fae Books is not in control of issuing the prizes.

Brody Markham has endured a nightmare, spending the last five years in prison and losing everything that was dear to him. Now he’s back home, trying to survive in a world he doesn’t recognize anymore. While his family and friends desperately try to reach through to him, he shelters himself further and further away from their love.

Alyssa Myers has worked her entire life to distance herself from the luxurious and privileged lifestyle in which she was raised. Running her non-profit agency, The Haven, she is content to spend her days helping abused animals find sanctuary, which fulfills her in a way that money just can’t buy.

Maybe it’s that she recognizes in Brody some of the same characteristics she sees in her homeless wards, but Alyssa is powerless to stop her personal quest to make Brody whole again.

While Brody struggles to surface from the darkness, Alyssa tries to protect her heart in case he’s not willing to accept the light that she offers him.

*MAKE IT A DOUBLE can be read as a stand-alone*

SNEAK PEEK EXCERPT

I put the last of my groceries away, fold up the brown paper bags, and tuck them in the space between my refrigerator and the kitchen wall. Turning around, I observe my little studio apartment. I see it all in just a quick glance, because it’s about the size of a postage stamp.

While I just helped Gabby move into Hunter’s house, I certainly didn’t need to ask them to reciprocate the favor. The only things I own are my clothes, and those were gifts to me from my mom. She had taken me out shopping the day after I got home from prison, outfitting me with an entirely new wardrobe. I mean… new as opposed to wearing prison garb for five years. I felt ashamed that my mom had to buy her twenty-eight-year-old son clothes because he didn’t have a dime to his name.

Past my clothes and some basic toiletries, I have no other possessions. The car I’m driving is courtesy of my parents… on loan, of course. It’s an old Chevy Malibu that had been sitting under a tarp, which Dad used to drive. They don’t use it, but it runs fine. Mom and Dad tried to give it to me, but I wouldn’t accept it. Instead, I capitulated only by agreeing that I was borrowing it until I could save up enough money to buy it from them.

Luckily, this studio apartment came completely furnished, and the kitchen was stocked with dishes, pots, pans, and utensils. I had all the basics that I needed to survive, because let’s face it… it wasn’t too fucking hard to boil some Ramen noodles for dinner, and that was a huge step up from the prison food I’d been eating.

So with my duffel bag filled with clothes purchased by my mom, I drove my old Chevy borrowed from my parents to the grocery store and stocked up on some basic provisions. Then it took me all of five minutes to move into my new home.

A knock on my door has me glancing down at my watch.

Right on time.

In three regular strides, I’m from one side of the apartment to the other and opening the door. There stands my parole officer, Jimbo Peaks. He is six-foot-six of solid muscle, his neck as thick as a tree truck, and his biceps the size of smoked hams. With skin darker than midnight, his light hazel eyes are spooky as shit when he looks directly at you, in that contemplative sort of way I’ve come to know over the last two months since I’ve been home.

“What’s up, Brody?” he says with a huge grin on his face, sticking his hand out for me to shake.

I take his hand, and it freaks me out how mine is dwarfed by his. I mean… I’m not a small man myself, almost as tall as Jimbo, in fact. But when comparing my muscle mass to his, I feel downright puny and I kept myself in pretty decent shape while in prison. Other than reading, working out was about the only thing that was a resourceful use of my time.

“Come on in,” I tell him as I step back so he can enter.

Jimbo walks into my humble abode and turns around once. Yup… he’s seen everything. A small kitchen on one side that merges right into my living room that abuts one wall. A double bed takes up the other wall, and the bathroom takes up another. It’s four hundred and fifty feet of cozy living, situated right above Mabel Fisher’s three-car garage.

Miss Mabel is older than Methuselah but has been a friend of our family’s since I was a baby. She’s eccentric, rich as hell, and loves to thumb her nose at polite society.

And by polite society, I mean those people here on the islands that look at me in disdain because I killed someone.

Not Mabel though. She was at my parents’ house within forty-eight hours of my return home, giving me a hug and a papery kiss, then making me sit down while she drank tea and filled me in on all the Outer Banks’ gossip for the past five years. She’s a trip… a breath of fresh air, and one of the few around here willing to give me a chance. When she offered to rent this apartment to me for a ridiculously small amount, I couldn’t say no.

“Nice digs man,” Jimbo’s deep voice rumbles. “All moved in?”

“Yup. Bag of clothes and some groceries. I’m settled.”

Jimbo chuckles and moves to my small kitchen table that seats only two people. Sitting down, he motions to the other chair so I do the same. “How does it feel to be out of your parents’ house?”

I crack a small smile and tap my fingers on the kitchen table. “It’s good. I mean… I love my parents, but it was time for me to get my own place.”

“Heard that,” Jimbo agrees, and then transitions into his next question. “How’s work going?”

“Going great,” I tell him, because it is. I enjoy working at Last Call, and I’m thankful as fuck I have a job. Most parolees struggle to find work, or get shit jobs that scrape the bottom of the barrel. When they can’t find work because no one will take a chance on them, they go back to a life of crime. If I had a nickel for every repeat offender I met in prison, who was there just because they couldn’t make an honest living, well… I’d be buying Mabel’s house from her rather than renting this apartment.

Jimbo doesn’t seem satisfied with my short answer, so he delves a bit more. It’s his job to make sure I can acclimate to life on the outside, so I’m not bothered when he asks, “Any problem being around the alcohol?”

“Nah,” I tell him genuinely. “No desire to drink at all.”

“That’s good,” he says with a smile. “Seeing as how that’s a condition of your parole.”

“Look, man… doesn’t matter if it’s a condition or not, there is nothing on this earth that could get me to drink a drop of alcohol.”

“And why is that?” he asks, but he knows the answer.

I tell him anyway.

“Because it shattered my life. Because it killed a man. It left a mother without a husband and a little boy without a father. Need any other reason?”

“No,” Jimbo says quietly, staring at me with those light eyes. “That’s a good enough reason.”

I hold his gaze, waiting for the next question. We’ve had this same meeting on five other occasions since I came home, but today it’s being done at my new home so he can check it out. As a parole officer, his role is part jail keeper, part counselor. It’s his responsibility to keep me on the straight and narrow, but to also do what he can to make sure my head is clear when I’m making my choices. So that involves talking… a lot. Just to make sure that the emotional and psychological toll of reentering the real world doesn’t cast me in a downward spiral.

Yeah, I talk a lot to Jimbo. He knows more of my internal struggles dealing with life on the outside than my family does. For whatever reason, I’ve been able to open up to him—somewhat—in a way that I just haven’t with my family. I suppose that boils down to the simple fact that Jimbo asks me questions… asks me how I’m feeling and how I’m coping. My parents, my identical twin Hunter, my baby sister, Casey… while they love me more than the air they breathe, well… they’re just not sure what is open to talk about and what may be taboo. So they walk on eggshells.

“Tell me some of the problems you’ve had adjusting?” Jimbo leads in.

Heard this question before too, and my answer the last time was, Not anything to tell.

I start to tell him the same thing, but the look on his face stops me. It says, And don’t hand me any bullshit, either.

I suppose I can skirt the real issues only so long before Jimbo is apt to put me in a headlock and beat the information out of me. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I decide to go ahead and lay it out. “I wake up at five AM every day, no matter what time I get to sleep the night before. It’s because I’ve been getting up at the same time every morning for the last five years… because I had no choice but to get up every morning at five AM. I don’t even know how to have a leisurely morning where I sleep in. When I go to sleep at night, I can hear metal cots squeaking and my cell mate rubbing one off while he tries to stifle his groans into the two-inch piece of flimsy foam that’s called a pillow. I hear the newbies crying, and I hear the lifers telling them to shut the fuck up. When I’m awake… out in the real world, I can’t walk around a blind corner without my palms sweating, because I’m expecting someone will be there waiting to jump me. I was always on alert… I’m still always on alert. The air smells too fresh, the food tastes too good, people talk too loud, and I’m having a hard time letting people touch me. It’s overwhelming and that’s just for starters, Jimbo. So yeah,” I say with some sarcasm as my eyes drop to the table. “I’m having a bit of an adjustment problem.”

“How does all of that make you feel?”

My eyes slowly rise to meet his. “I’m pissed off. All the time. I’m withdrawn, moody, and restless. I have all this wide-open space available to me, yet I’m having a hard time straying too far from the things that are safe to me. So I go to work, and I go home. That’s it.”

Jimbo gives me that contemplative look, and I can see the wheels turning inside his head. I’m prepared for him to launch into a pep talk, about how I have a chance to make something with my life… to atone for my mistakes and put the past behind me. Instead, he says, “You know… there’s something odd about you.”

My eyebrows shoot up and, for a moment, I consider being affronted by that statement, but then I just mentally shrug my shoulders. Odd is one of many things that I am.

“How’s that?” I ask.

“I’ve been doing this work close to twelve years now… and I can count on one hand the amount of parolees I’ve had that don’t try to convince me that they didn’t do it… or they were framed… or hell, even if they did do it, they blame a corrupt system for sending them away.” He pauses, his green-gold eyes flickering back and forth between mine. “But not you. You accepted responsibility and never once tried to blame someone or something else for your lot in life. It just makes you… odd.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I lean back in my chair. “No one to blame but myself.”

“That’s right,” Jimbo says with a nod. “No one to blame but yourself, and you’ve done a remarkable job accepting responsibility. In fact, you’ve done such a good job at it… some might say that it would help you have a clear conscience.”

“What’s your point?” I ask, genuinely curious as to where he’s going with this.

“My point is that if you truly took responsibility and had a clear conscience, then you should have some measure of peace.”

I scratch my chin absently, pondering his words. I did the time. I took my lumps and accepted my punishment. Should that give me peace?

Jimbo’s probably right. In those circumstances, maybe my soul should feel a little lighter… more free. If I truly was remorseful for what happened, and I truly had done my penance, I shouldn’t be struggling the way I am.

Except… my circumstances aren’t exactly the way Jimbo describes it. He sees my sorrow and guilt, but he doesn’t see past that. Because there’s a whole lot more that makes up Brody Markham’s fucked-up world than just the after effects of a few years in prison. My issues started before I even got sent away.

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.